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Are Dental X-rays Safe for Kids?

Are Dental X-rays Safe for Kids?

Children’s mouths are growing and changing constantly, and a visual inspection alone cannot tell your dentist everything they may need to know. Eventually every child will need a dental X-ray.

But are dental X-rays safe, and should your child have them taken?

Facts Surrounding X-rays

You can rest assured knowing that today’s dental X-rays are safer than ever before. So safe, in fact, that the amount of radiation a child is exposed to in a bite-wing X-ray (image of the back molars) is roughly equivalent to the amount of radiation they are exposed to in the environment on a daily basis.

Edmond Pediatric & Teen Dentistry uses only digital X-rays, which have roughly 80% less radiation than conventional film X-rays, so the effects may be even lower.

How X-rays Are Beneficial

The benefits from obtaining X-rays, which include diagnosing decay, pathology, or any abnormalities, far outweigh the risks of being exposed to this minimal dose of radiation.

Since all children are different, their need for X-rays will vary as well. Often times, an X-ray is utilized to help your dentist diagnose developments that cannot be viewed through a visual examination.

Children are generally more susceptible to tooth decay than adults, and children with a high risk of tooth decay are recommended to have X-rays taken every six months.

Lower risk children may require X-rays less frequently (as seldom as every two or three years), so you can significantly cut the number of your child’s X-rays by promoting good oral health at home.